The celebrated Sears Wish Book catalog that, for decades, has had families running to their mailboxes so they could plan their holiday shopping and create their Santa wish lists is being brought to life online. Sears has introduced a new, interactive, online version of everyone’s favorite Holiday Wish Book, allowing shoppers to easily turn the virtual pages of the catalog and purchase products instantly from their computer.  The online Sears Wish Book is fun, user-friendly and easy to navigate, allowing you to choose the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. “For years the Sears Holiday Wish Book has brought Christmas to life for kids of all ages, and made holiday shopping easier and more fun for our customers,” said Imran Jooma, senior vice president for Online at Sears Holdings. “While there is still a printed version of the Wish Book, the new interactive version puts a new twist on an old tradition and brings even more value to our customers by allowing them to easily browse and shop online at their convenience.”  Consumers can shop the Wish Book by logging onto www.sears.com/wishbook where they will find this season’s most popular gifts and products. The online Sears Wish Book is truly interactive with scrolling high resolution images, Christmas music, and real-life holiday scenes to help you get into the spirit.  Other features include:

• Top Gift List that includes quick ideas for everyone on your list.
• Budget-friendly gift ideas. 
• Take a trip back through time from 1933 to the present and see how far we’ve come with the Wish Book Memories page.
• Watch videos that show children playing with My First Craftsman and My First Kenmore toys.

Bionorica, an international company pioneering clinical research of natural remedies, has created a resource for parents who want natural solutions for children’s health.  A tip sheet on “Staying Naturally Healthy during the Holidays,” the first in an ongoing “Natural Moms” series, is now available on the company’s website at www.bionoricausa.com.  Parents can sign up on the website for a free subscription to the Natural Moms tip sheets, with content contributed by experts such as pediatrician Robert W. Sears, MD, best-selling author of The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood and other titles in the Sears Parenting Library. The website will also be offering a “Natural Moms’ Corner” with webinars, online chats with top pediatricians and natural health practitioners, and information on various topics related to natural health and wellness.  Another component of Bionorica’s nation-wide health education campaign is a live action video for children, with kid-friendly tips on how to stay naturally healthy (http://www.bionoricausa.com/healthy-tips-video). The company will make a $1 charitable donation for every person who signs on to watch the online video, with proceeds benefiting the Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization in New York City that sends inner city children to summer home-stay programs and summer camp.  “The health and well being of children is at the core of our company’s mission,” explained Wolf Aulenbacher, president of Bionorica USA. “We hope that by creating these educational materials for both parents and children, we can help keep families happy and healthy all year long.”

A healthy, balanced diet – it’s every parent’s goal for their child. But a new survey finds that when it comes to getting kids to eat healthy, moms and dads have their plates full.  According to the Ronzoni Smart Taste® Family Table Survey nearly half of all parents (47%) of kids ages 3-12 have a difficult time feeding them nutritious, healthy foods. Older moms (ages 45-54) have the hardest time (57%). Parents from the western part of the country seem to have an easier time than those in other regions. Dads find it slightly more difficult than moms to interest their children in healthy meals (49% vs. 45%). Only 26% of parents find it very easy to feed their kids healthy meals.

There are many reasons why kids resist nutritious options, the survey finds. Parents say taste (32%) is by far the biggest reason healthy foods are rejected. Looks (10%) and texture (9%) follow.  And which good-for-you foods rank among the most offensive to children? Sardines top the list at 63%, followed by liver (59%) and beets (50%). Coming in closely behind are Brussels sprouts (49%) and okra (48%). Among the least offensive foods are carrots, with only 15% of parents saying their children find fault with them.  To dramatize the everyday challenges that moms and dads have in getting their kids to eat healthy foods, Ronzoni Smart Taste has created the video “Supermom.” The piece depicts the stunts one health-conscious mom goes through to sway her skeptical kids at the family table. Here is the video

Disney Online has launched a new website featuring an original video series from The Jim Henson Company called “The Possibility Shop” (www.FamilyFun.com/PossibilityShop). The site, which can be accessed through Disney.com or FamilyFun.com, also features an array of ideas for family-friendly art projects and activities and will update every two weeks with new seasonal or holiday-based content. “The Possibility Shop” is exclusively sponsored by The Clorox Company for its Clorox2^® Stain Fighter & Color Booster, Clorox^® Disinfecting Wipes and toilet-cleaning products.  The new site appeals to a broad family audience, tapping into the content and audience reach of both Disney.com and FamilyFun.com. “This is a great example of how Disney Online can create original content that uniquely appeals to families, and particularly moms,” stated Paul Yanover, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Disney Online. “’The Possibility Shop’ places high-quality original video in an immersive online environment filled with art projects and activities as well as ideas for families to take the fun offline to find their own adventures.”

Moms, dads, grandparents and gift givers searching for the hottest toys this holiday season can now find them online at www.TheBigToyBook.com.  “TheBigToyBook.com not only makes shopping simple and easy, but also empowers consumers by giving them a choice as to where they ultimately buy the toys and games topping kids’ holiday wish lists this year,” says “The Toy Insider Mom” Laurie Schacht, Co-founder of TheBigToyBook.com. “At TheBigToyBook.com, shoppers can find the toys they are looking for—whether they have a specific item in mind or are looking for an age-appropriate gift idea—and then purchase them from their preferred retailers at the best prices available online. ”  For shoppers who know exactly which toys they’re looking for, or for those who might need a gift suggestion, TheBigToyBook.com allows consumers to shop by Type, Brand, Age Group, Company, and What’s Hot. Products are also grouped by girls and boys by various age ranges, from babies ages 0-24 months and preschoolers ages 3-5, to older kids ages 6-8, tweens ages 8-12 and teens.  The Big Toy Book® team of moms has also divided all products on the site into specific toy categories, including arts & crafts, games & puzzles, educational, tech toys, eco-friendly, construction, electronics, Web and more. TheBigToyBook.com’s interactive tools and easy site navigation assist shoppers in finding exactly what they’re looking for, as well as the best current deals online, without having to go from site to site.

After purchasing an item on TheBigToyBook.com, shoppers are invited to share their feedback about their toy and retailer experience using the site’s comment form—enabling the consumer to determine “What’s Hot.” Moms, dads and gift givers can use these reviews to assist them in their decision-making process.

“For years, millions of shoppers have excitedly awaited ‘The Big Toy Book’ to arrive on their doorstep, but this year, they’ll find The Big Toy Book bigger and better than ever, available at their fingertips, online and interactive, at www.TheBigToyBook.com,” says Toy Trend Expert Reyne Rice, co-founder of TheBigToyBook.com. “Combining the ease of online shopping with a choice of multiple retailer options, TheBigToyBook.com is the new one-stop shop for holiday and year-round toy shopping.”

MeadWestvaco Consumer & Office Products (MCOP), a division of MeadWestvaco and Cozi® Group Inc have announced a strategic partnership and launch of the free MeadCal™ Family Organizer at www.meadcal.com.  A recent MCOP study shows that 65% of adults use both paper and electronic planning products to manage their lives and families. The alliance between Cozi and MCOP results in a product that specifically addresses this significant co-usage market. The collaboration will empower MCOP’s consumers with Cozi’s online solutions that make family life easier. With the launch of www.meadcal.com, MCOP is offering a version of Cozi’s online calendar and organizer to its consumers for use in conjunction with other MCOP paper-based products that can be purchased at retailers and office products dealers throughout North America. “We evaluated online calendaring and organizing solutions and found Cozi to be uniquely positioned to offer the best digital solution for managing family schedules,” said Don Sommerville, Vice President of Marketing, MWV Consumer & Office Products. “Families are busier than ever and they need tools that connect them 24/7 from anywhere. Families can access their online calendar, customized lists and communications tools from any computer at home, at work, or on any mobile phone. MeadCal™, using Cozi’s Web-based software, provides families with tools to manage schedules and activities, track shopping and to do lists, organize household chores, and share family moments with friends and relatives.” 

“At Cozi, we’re focused on families and helping them find ways to communicate, coordinate and simplify everyday tasks so they can enjoy their lives,” said Robbie Cape, co-founder and CEO of Cozi. “A partnership with MWV Consumer & Office Products enables us to deliver our software to their incredible base of avid consumers. This alliance also gives us a world class partner to innovate and deliver new solutions to address the organization and planning needs of today’s busy families.”   Available immediately at www.meadcal.com is a co-branded version of Cozi’s family organizer; it is free to families and offers an online family calendar, customizable shopping lists, to do lists, a family journal and a messaging center.

As we spend time this week giving thanks, we want to thank you for sending us your great marketing-to-mom ideas and campaigns and turning to us for all the latest information on how to successfully connect with today’s Mom consumer. Here are some great marketing-to-mom stories you can enjoy during your holiday travels and visits:

‘Twilight Moms’ Big Part Of Opening Weekend Box Office Numbers
ABC News, November 23, 2009
It isn’t just the teens and tweens flocking to see ‘New Moon’, Moms played a big part in the movie’s opening weekend success.

Moms Plan to Up Spending This Holiday: Survey
PROMO, November 24, 2009
Looks as though the stockings will still be stuffed by Moms this holiday season. A New BabyCenter survey “finds that mommy shoppers plan to spend more on presents this year than in 2008.”

Moms to Blame for Most Family Squabbles
Momlogic.com, November 23, 2009
A new British study has found that “dear old mom is the reason for most” of the family spats. Really?

Garanimals and Walmart have announced the introduction of a new line of play and learning toys exclusively at Walmart stores, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.  The new toy line features age appropriate toys for infants, toddlers and pre-school children that come brightly packaged with many of the same animal characters that have made Garanimals so recognizable to parents and kids the world over.  “The new line is a part of Walmart’s effort to enhance our pre-school toy assortment and provide a new selection of quality toys that many moms will remember from their youth, with a superior value in comparison to specialty stores,” said Laura Phillips, Chief Toy Officer and VP of Toys, Walmart.  The new Garanimals toy line follows the successful introduction of Garanimals kids apparel which came to Walmart exclusively in 2008. The Garanimals brand will be supported by a multi-million dollar television advertising campaign this fall and holiday.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri has announced Newborn and Parenting Resources – a new service designed to help new mothers adjust to their newborn baby and return to work after maternity leave. Newborn and Parenting Resources is available to all new and in-force short-term disability plans effective January 1, 2010. New moms have access to Newborn and Parenting Resources once their baby arrives and their short term disability claim has been approved. Then, they will receive eight weeks of Newborn and Parenting Resources services at no cost to them. The eight weeks start on the date the new mother enrolls in the program. Once enrolled, the new mothers are paired with highly trained and licensed professional coaches who have advanced degrees in counseling and/or child development. The coaches provide support and help mothers set goals, address concerns and identify resolutions on topics including: returning to work, adjusting to a new baby, work/life balance, issues with older siblings, health and nutrition, child development and parent well-being. The coaches are available via e-mail, instant message chat, online journal and telephone. In addition, new mothers can receive a 12-month subscription to American Baby magazine and get discounts on products to make their house safe for their newborn. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first baby or the fifth, we know making the transition from maternity leave to working outside the house can be challenging,” said Nick Brecker, President of Life and Disability. “We want new mothers to know we provide more than a benefits check. We provide new mothers with resources to help ease the transition back to work after their maternity leave and help them be successful working mothers.”

iVillage has launched its new food site (www.ivillage.com/food), a modern online food destination specifically designed for women and moms who want to simplify meal planning, eat healthier, and spend more time with their families around the table. This marks the second phase in a site-wide relaunch, which takes a new approach to women’s media and caters to the needs of today’s busy women who live their lives online. McCormick, a global leader in the sale of spices, herbs and seasonings, will be the launch advertiser for the new food site. “iVillage is the only place where women’s everyday needs are met with tools and a community to support them. Food, a topic central to all women, is a key component in delivering experiences around the things that women care about most,” said Jodi Kahn, EVP, iVillage. “We know women are the primary shoppers and cooks in the home, and have designed the new site with a real-life approach to how they consume, shop and integrate food into their lives.”  According to new iVillage research conducted by GfK Roper just this week, 73 percent of women online already rely on the Internet to plan family meals. Tapping into this trend, iVillage is unveiling a highly personalized set of tools with over 139 categories to help women manage their shopping lists, food preferences, health needs, dietary needs and even allergy considerations in innovative ways.  Kahn also announced a partnership with Time Inc.’s MyRecipes.com, which will deliver a special array of dishes from top brands such as Real Simple, Cooking Light and Southern Living. This marks the first time Time Inc. has shared its recipes with an outside company.  To help advertisers become fully integrated with a woman’s daily routine and leverage the thousands of conversations happening in the iVillage community, there will be a host of partner-driven programs available at launch.

As the launch advertiser, McCormick will promote our spices and signature recipes. “McCormick is a brand women trust for all of their cooking needs, and we are thrilled to have a digital partner like iVillage Food to extend our brand online to a key target audience for us,” said Laurie Harrsen, Director of Consumer Communications at McCormick.  iVillage will continue its relaunch with next month’s Astrology debut, followed by Health, Beauty and Family throughout the first half of 2010.